Three individuals accused of sexually assaulting a woman on Brighton beach last month are set to go on trial in March. Abdulla Ahmadi, a 25-year-old Iranian national from Crewe, along with Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, and Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, both Egyptian nationals from Horsham, were apprehended and charged with two counts of rape following an incident reported by Sussex Police. The assault allegedly occurred on the lower esplanade in Brighton around 5 am on October 4.
During a plea hearing, which was postponed due to the unavailability of a Kurdish interpreter for Ahmadi, a three-week trial has been slated for March 2026. The accused individuals are to remain in custody pending a pre-trial hearing in December. The Home Office revealed that the men entered the UK through unconventional means and were awaiting decisions on their asylum applications.
Detective Superintendent Andy Harbour stated in October, “I understand the distress this incident has caused the community, and our collaborative efforts to safeguard women and girls will persist.” He also mentioned that the victim is receiving support from specialized officers.